7,005
Port Allen, Louisiana
January 18, 2017
A regular meeting of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board was held this date with the following membership:
Present: Jason P. Manola, President, Toby Sarradet, Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., Leon N. Goudeau, Rose A. Lee Roche’, G. Alden Chustz,Jr., Michael A. Maranto, Teri Bergeron
Absent: Craig Sarradet, Ronald P. LeBlanc
Geordie Nabors, Brusly Middle School student, and Beau Rabalais, Lukeville Upper Elementary School student, lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
The next item was approval of the minutes of the regular board meeting held on December 14, 2016, and the special board meeting on December 20, 2016.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mr. Goudeau:
Be It Resolved, That the minutes of the regular board meeting held on December 14, 2016, and the special board meeting held on December 20, 2016, be approved as presented.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
President Manola announced that the next item was Election of Officers. He called for a roll call vote to adopt the voting procedures and to open the floor for nomination of officers.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby adopt the voting procedures, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the board does hereby open the floor for nomination of officers.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
Upon adoption of the voting procedures, President Manola opened the floor for nominations for Vice-President of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Mr. Chustz nominated Dr. Atley D. Walker, Sr. for Vice-President of the Board, and the nomination was seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet.
There being no further nominations for Vice-President of the Board, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the nominations for Vice-President of the Board be closed, and
Be It Further Resolved, That Dr. Atley D. Walker,Sr., be declared Vice-President of the Board by acclamation.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
Dr. Walker expressed his appreciation to the members of the Board for re-electing him to serve as Vice-President of the Board.
Dr. Walker, Vice-President of the Board, opened the floor for nominations for President of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board.
Mrs. Bergeron nominated Jason Manola for President of the Board, and the nomination was seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet.
There being no further nominations for President of the Board, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Bergeron and seconded by Mr. Toby Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the nominations for President of the Board be closed, and
Be It Further Resolved, That Mr. Jason Manola be declared President of the Board by acclamation.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
Mr. Manola expressed his appreciation to the members of the Board for re-electing him to serve as President of the Board and thanked them for their cooperation and support. He informed the board that committee assignments would be on the February committee agenda and he planned to rename the Personnel and Finance Committee to the Finance Committee.
The next item was the Superintendent’s Report:
Resolution of condolences to the family of Mr. Felton Crockett, Jr., and the family of Mr. Booker T. “Bill” Wright.
Whereupon, the following resolutions were offered by Mr. Goudeau and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mr. Felton Crockett, Jr., retired teacher and assistant principal, in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feeings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Mr. Crockett in the West Baton Rouge School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. Crockett.
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby extend to the family of Mr. Booker T. “Bill” Wright, retired vocational instructor, in the West Baton Rouge School System, their feelings of sincere appreciation for the many years of dedicated service rendered by Mr. Wright in the West Baton Rouge School System, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby offer their sincere sympathy and condolences to the family of Mr. Wright.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
CONSENT AGENDA
8. None
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
The next item was introduction of the following items on the End of Consent Agenda:
9. Adoption of a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, December 10, 2016, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds and the levy of a special tax therein. David Henderson/Foley & Judell Law Firm.
10. Presentation of 2015-16 Annual Audit Report conducted by Postlethwaite & Netterville/Rodney Combs
11. Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports/Jared Gibbs
12. Consideration of request by Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) that all School Boards in the State of Louisiana adopt the Louisiana School Boards Association Updated Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board members during January 2017 which was proclaimed by Honorable Governor John Bel Edwards as School Board Member Recognition Month in the State of Louisiana.
13. Discussion relative to the Architect selection process for the upcoming building projects proposed in the December 10, 2016, Tax Election/Wes Watts
14. Discussion relative to proposal to charge tuition on a sliding scale to non-eligible families that would like to enroll their child in the Pre K Program/Crystal Leon, Supervisor of Pre K Programs and Head Start Director
15. Consideration of request to approve moving the dates of the committee meetings in February and March (Committee meeting on February 14th and Board meeting on February 15th; Committee meeting on March 14th and Board meeting on March 15th.)
16. Review of Expulsion Appeal/Executive Session
The next item was consideration of End of Consent Agenda item #1: Adoption of a resolution providing for canvassing the returns and declaring the results of the special election held in Parishwide School District No. 3 of West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, December 10, 2016, to authorize the incurring of debt and issuance of bonds and the levy of a special tax therein./David Henderson, Foley & Judell Law Firm
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
The next item was consideration of End of Consent agenda item #10:
Presentation of 2015-16 Annual Independent Auditors’ Report conducted By Postlethwaite & Netterville, and presented by Mr. Rodney Combs.
Mr. Combs informed the members of the board that the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board had been awarded the best audit ratings possible for the last nine years, an unmodified opinion.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Chustz and seconded by Mr. Toby
Sarradet:
Be It Resolved, That the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board does hereby approve and adopt the 2015-16 Annual Independent Auditors’ Report conducted by Postlethwaite & Netterville, and presented by Mr. Rodney Combs, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby commend and congratulate the Superintendent and Staff for their outstanding efforts for being awarded the best audit ratings possible for another year.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda Item #11: Consideration of request for approval of the monthly expenditures and financial reports presented by Jared Gibbs,Supervisor of Business Services.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by
Mrs. Roche’:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the monthly expenditures and
financial reports as presented by Jared Gibbs, Supervisor of Business Services.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda item #12:
Consideration of request by Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA) that all School Boards in the State of Louisiana adopt the Louisiana School Boards Association Updated Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board members during January, 2017, which was proclaimed by Honorable Governor John Bel Edwards as “School Board Member Recognition Month in the State of Louisiana.”
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Roche’,
Be It Resolved, That the members of the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board do hereby adopt the Louisiana School Boards Association Updated Code of Conduct for Louisiana School Board members.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda item #13: Discussion relative to the Architect selection process for the upcoming building projects proposed in the December 10, 2016, Tax Election.
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Mr. Watts reported that the board needed to hire a Program Manager and a Financial Advisor.
The Architect selection process would be handled by an RFQ Committee which would be comprised of staff and members of the community to be appointed by Mr. Watts.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Mrs. Roche’ and seconded by Mr. Maranto:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve the process whereby the selection of Architects would be handled by an RFQ Committee, and
Be It Further Resolved, That the RFQ Committee would present their selections to the board for final approval.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda item #14: Discussion relative to proposal to charge tuition on a sliding scale to non-eligible families that would like to enroll their child in the Pre K Program/Crystal Leon, Supervisor of Pre K Programs and Head Start Director.
Mrs. Leon presented the following sliding scale to be used for non-eligible families that would like to enroll their child in the Pre K Program: (In order to cover the cost of Pre K and to be fair to all families, we are proposing to charge families tuition for 10 months based on 3 levels:)
1) 300% Poverty Guidelines for 2016-17 - $250/Month or $2,500/year
2) 350% Poverty Guidelines for 2016-17 - $275/Month or $2,750/year
3) >350% Poverty Guidelines for 2016-17 -$300/Month or $3,000/year
The Chairman declared the floor open for public comment.
Whereupon the following resolution was offered by Mr. Maranto and seconded by Mrs. Roche’:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby approve and adopt the sliding scale to be used to charge tuition for non-eligible families that would like to enroll their child in the Pre K Program.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda item #15: Discussion relative to moving the dates of the committee meetings in February and March (Committee meeting on on February 14th and Board meeting on February 15th; Committee meeting on March 14th and Board meeting on March 15th)
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the committee meeting in February be changed to February 7, 2017 and the committee meeting in March be changed to March 7, 2017.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
The next item to be considered was End of Consent Agenda item #16: Review of Expulsion Appeal/Executive Session.
Whereupon, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board declare itself in Executive Session to review an Expulsion Appeal.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
Upon termination of the Executive Session, the following resolution was offered by Dr. Walker and seconded by Mrs. Bergeron:
Be It Resolved, That the board does hereby uphold the recommended expulsion of a certain student enrolled in Port Allen High School as recommended for expulsion by the Principal of Port Allen High School.
The above resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Aye: Mr. Toby Sarradet, Dr. Walker, Mr. Goudeau, Mrs. Roche’, Mr. Chustz, Mr. Maranto, Mrs. Bergeron, Mr. Manola
Nay: None
Absent: Mr. Craig Sarradet, Mr. LeBlanc
There being no further business to come before the board, on motion of Mr. Toby Sarradet and seconded by Mr. Chustz the following resolution was adopted:
Be It Resolved, That the meeting be adjourned.
Wes Watts Jason Manola
Secretary-Treasurer President